Dudes Craft, Too: The Tony Macaluso Interview

Hello, hello. Today I am as happy as can be to be bringing you an interview with the one and only Tony! He possesses an amazing artistic talent and his work is both eye catching and unique. I will have all of his social media accounts linked down at the end of this post so be sure to check him out.

What is your name and where are you from?

My name is Anthony Macaluso and I’m from New Orleans, Louisiana.

What types of crafts or art forms do you do?

I make cards and do art journaling.

What do you enjoy most about crafting?

Turning a blank canvas into a piece of art brings me joy and happiness.

How did you get started with it?

I saw a booth at a craft show which piqued my interest in paper crafts. I did a search on YouTube to learn more and, like my wallet, the rest is history.

Have you always been creative?

Yes. Both of my grandmothers were professional seamstresses and I grew up watching them make things. Creativity is in my genes.

Card making is considered by some to be a hobby in which only females participate. Have you ever experienced any judgement or discrimination based on this outdated stereotype?

Yes; all my life. Even now at big events I will get asked if I am a crafter. My solution is to wear shirts that say “Craft-T Dude”.

What has been the highlight of your card making journey thus far?

The highlight of my journey has been being invited onto a few design teams because I never thought that that was an option for me.

What changes, if any, would you like to see happen in the card making community?

I would like card makers to stop comparing their work to that of others and to start recognizing themselves as artists regardless of their skill level.

What experiences, attributes, or perspectives shape your crafting?

The weather and my state of mind influence my crafting quite a bit.

What is the best thing about being a male card maker? What is the most challenging?

The best part is letting my creativity flow, being able to reach others, and inspiring people to create even when I lose my creative vision and feel like giving up. The worst part is feeling like I don’t belong or that I don’t fit in.

How would you describe your creative style?

I’d say my style is clean and simple.

What is something that you struggle with in terms of creativity?

Using stamps on more than one project is my biggest hurdle.

Where do you draw inspiration from?

I get a lot of inspiration from fashion and nature.

What words of encouragement or wisdom do you have for crafty guys or anyone else?

Network, find where you fit in, and don’t be afraid to express yourself creatively.

Tony, thank you very much for being a part of my series. It’s such an honor to have you on my blog and to get to know you a bit more. It breaks my heart to know that you have ever felt like you don’t belong or that you don’t fit in.

You will always have a place in this community as long as I’m around. If anyone ever makes you feel like you aren’t welcome you just send them my way and I’ll set them straight.

If you’d like to connect with Tony you can find him

• On his blog
• In his Facebook group
• On his Facebook page
• On Pinterest
• On Instagram
• On Instagram
• On Twitter
• On Periscope

Until next time,

Samantha